Cathedral of Christ the King Newsletter — March 2021

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MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

JOIN THE PROPERTY COMMITTEE

Parishioners with Experience and Knowledge Needed for Upcoming Projects

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ith a long list of projects either underway or pending approval, the Christ the King Property Committee is reaching out for additional members who can bring their professional trades skills and experience to the ministry.

“These new members will bring a new set of eyes and share the load with others," says Joe, Christ the King Facilities Manager.

“We are looking for members with experience in plumbing, electrical, architectural and construction management, or construction engineering. They will be doing mostly advisory work and consultant tasks.”

The committee advises the Rector and facility management staff on infrastructure needs, ongoing and preventive maintenance projects, landscaping, and the physical space in both the parish and school. This committee works closely with the Stewardship Council and Finance Committee.

The Property Committee also is looking for someone to take minutes and serve as the recorder for the meetings. Currently, the group is meeting on the Zoom videoconference platform, but the sessions are held at 6:30 p.m. continued on page 5

Inside MARCH 2021

2 The Wise Men’s Gifts Symbolize Our Lenten Obligations 3 In Face of Ongoing Pandemic, We Continue to Embrace Stewardship 4 The St. Vincent de Paul Society: Seeing the Face of Christ in Others Through Service 6 What is Almsgiving?

7 The Prayers of the Faithful Ministry Leaning on the Pillar of Prayer

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Stewardship

The Wise Men’s Gifts Symbolize Our Lenten Obligations

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e experience great joy when we celebrate the coming of the Magi at Epiphany each year. For many of us, it is the completion of Christmas. Yet, the gifts offered by the Magi — gold, frankincense and myrrh — can serve to guide us as we observe Lent this month.

It may seem strange to connect the joyful celebration of Epiphany with the penitential season of Lent. Yet, our spiritual life should not be divided into separate bits having no connection with each other.

In the same way, the Church’s liturgical year should also flow from one season to another. The different feasts and seasons certainly have different emphases, but they are intended to build on each other. So let’s see if we can connect what the Magi gave Jesus with what we’re going to offer Him this Lent.

The basic ingredients for our Lenten rule normally come from what are termed the Three Notable Duties — prayer, fasting and almsgiving. These in turn come from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).

How do we connect the wise men’s gifts with the notable duties? Actually, what the gifts symbolize matches up surprisingly well.

Frankincense is the basic ingredient in the incense used in the worship of God, in the ancient world and in the Church today. Offering it to Jesus points out His divine nature, and so it symbolizes prayer. Our Lenten rule needs to include prayer and worship. Of course, we are bound to worship at Sunday Mass yearround. Maybe during Lent, we might add a weekday Mass. Perhaps we can increase the time we devote to private prayer at home or at adoration. Devotional reading from the Bible or another appropriate book can be added. In addition, don’t forget the possibility of adding family devotions during Lent, so that the whole family prays together.

When we offer our gold to Christ to build His Church and to help His poor, we are engaged in almsgiving.

While giving from the treasure God has entrusted to

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us is a duty throughout the whole year, maybe this Lent we can practice being a little more generous than usual. If our giving is a thankful response to the gift of eternal life that God has given us, we will find that the giving is indeed a means of grace.

For centuries, myrrh has been associated with fasting. Although myrrh comes from the same family of plants as frankincense, it has a more pungent scent and bitter taste. In the ancient world, it was regularly used in embalming. Generations of theological writers have seen the gift of myrrh as a foreshadowing of Christ’s sufferings. And fasting strengthens us in holiness and prepares us to come into God’s presence after our own deaths. St. Thomas Aquinas himself linked myrrh with repentance and fasting when he wrote that myrrh represents the penance by which we preserve our souls from the corruption of sin.

Fasting may be the most difficult of the three notable duties for modern Americans. After all, most of the advertising and many of the magazine articles we see are devoted to making us more, not less, comfortable. We usually think of fasting only under the heading of dieting to lose weight. Instead, try to think of fasting as a way to become more spiritually fit. Body and spirit affect each other. The whole sacramental system is built on the truth that we can receive spiritual grace through material things and physical actions. Our specific requirements of fasting are limited — abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, and a reduction in the quantity of food we eat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. But discipline of our physical bodies for our spiritual well-being does not have to be limited to Lent!

Gold, frankincense and myrrh were indeed valuable gifts for the wise men to present to the Child Jesus. When we look at their symbolism, we can see their relationship to the three notable duties of almsgiving, prayer and fasting. What gifts are we going to offer to Jesus this Lent?

A Letter From Our Cathedral Rector

In Face of Ongoing Pandemic, We Continue to Embrace Stewardship Dear Brothers and Sisters:

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his month we realize we have been at it for a year. The pandemic is still with us. We need to still be implementing our safety protocol steps. My guess is that the arrival of spring will tempt many of us to be more social, but I encourage you to make wise and conservative decisions in order to keep others and yourself safe. It continues to look like better days are ahead, but we need to be patient.

But that does not mean that we do not plan for the post-pandemic days. In this article, I want to suggest several areas of our ministry where it will be good to have a plan. I realize that as I retire this summer, I will not be part of implementing some of these ideas, but they still seem important for all of us to consider and some of them will be relevant between now and June 30 There will be some financial needs throughout our community. Businesses have closed; workers have lost jobs; wages have been cut and profits have been less than usual. Our ministries of charity will need to be in high gear.

We have been fortunate that our school has been able to operate. But the children of our community, including many parish families, have not been able to meet as usual in public schools. We need to be supportive of strategies that will be helpful to those students who have fallen behind in their studies.

Virtual meetings, classes, and Masses have helped us to keep our ministries moving forward. We anticipate that Zooms and livestreaming will be aspects of ministry as the parish moves into the future.

Our staff has been less present at our office; the office itself has not been as open as usual. When we re-open on a normal level, we will need a team of volunteer receptionists to provide a welcome and initial assistance to those who come to our office.

When we re-open, it will be exciting to resume our social life, our school’s athletic programs, our ministry to the sick and shut-ins, our various liturgical ministries, and the fullness of our ministries which

bring people together, especially our youth.

It will be exciting to experience the cathedral filled with people again.

Many people have risen to the occasion as volunteers during this time of the pandemic.

Many of them have given in a very generous way of their energy. We need to be ready to reinforce them with other volunteers and with the return of many volunteers who have been staying home and staying safe.

During the pandemic, our campaign to address the infrastructural issues of our Church and school has continued, as has our daily cleaning and maintenance, and our constant sanitization. Our parish’s facility staff of Joe Sandfort, James West, and Ronnie Hood has been magnificent, as has their team of volunteers. However, we anticipate that we will be needing a few more volunteers who are experienced in various aspects of construction and maintenance.

Our call to stewardship includes volunteering, financial giving, and prayer. We have been praying our way through the pandemic. I encourage you to keep up that spiritual commitment as we still have a way to go. In one sense, the pandemic has been like a long retreat for many of us. Talented and driven as we might be, we do not control our lives and our world as much as we would like. We need God and the grace of God. The brokenness of our world has been revealed in the political and racial strife. We have experienced so many highs and lows and have had to process them in a fairly isolated manner.

Prayer has been a strength for so many of us in this chaos. As we are coming through it all, it will be so good for us to stay with our deepened commitments to prayer.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Paul Prabell, Rector 3

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The St. Vincent de Paul Society:

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ometimes it can be easy to give to others in a disconnected way. Maybe you drop a couple of dollars in a bucket or bring a sack of canned goods to a local food pantry. When going through your closet, you donate the items you’re no longer using. And while all of those things are important acts of service, sometimes it can be easy to forget about the “face” of the human being in need.

The mission of the St. Vincent de Paul Society is to change that — meeting people face-to-face, seeing Christ in them, and serving as a tangible witness of His love. And while this service certainly looks a bit different in light of the pandemic, it is still this personal aspect that sets the St. Vincent de Paul Society apart from many other sources of aid to those in poverty. The Vincentians’ typical practice of visiting and bringing assistance to people in their homes is currently on pause, but they still seek to bring that personal connection as they share God’s love with those in need, in other ways.

“I’m a cradle Catholic and getting involved with St. Vincent de Paul is the first time that I got physically involved in helping,” says Matt

Callahan, who has been involved with the ministry since 2011. “Before, I would make donations or send checks, but I never did a lot hands-on. Now, I realize how fortunate I am and how blessed I am when I see the desperate straits some people are facing — it makes me very thankful.”

Our St. Vincent de Paul conference at the Cathedral of Christ the King works alongside several other parish conferences within the diocese, responding to the calls received. Although home visits are currently not deemed safe, the St. Vincent de Paul Society has found other ways to serve the local community — from mailing food and clothing vouchers to individuals and families to continuing our quarterly donations to our sister parish, Holy Trinity in Harlan, Ky., as well as the New Hope Clinic in Owingsville, Ky. In non-COVID times, the St. Vincent de Paul Society also offers a grocery store for the residents at the Ballard-Griffith Towers to shop for food and other necessary items. Unfortunately, the store remains closed at this time.

The funds used by our St. Vincent de Paul conference are primarily raised through the second collection at the Cathedral, which is

Although currently closed due to COVID, the Vincentians usually run a store near a low-income housing development.

Visiting people in their homes is one of the hallmarks of the St. Vincent de Paul Society's ministry.

Seeing the Face of Christ in Others Through Service designated for the St. Vincent de Paul Society, four times each year.

“Each conference relies on their parish for donations and contributions to keep their conference running,” says Matt, who serves as the conference President. “Your donations are helping those who are in need, living right here in the community with you.”

Matt encourages his fellow parishioners to become involved in serving those in need through the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He hopes that our witness of service will be a reminder of God’s

love for all in need, as we seek to fulfill Christ’s mission.

“This should matter to all of us because Jesus said to do it,” Matt says. “Matthew 25 tells us, ‘When you help the least of these, you help Me and when you don’t help the least of these, you don’t help Me.’ “I hope people are reminded that there is a God, and He will help,” he adds. “To see that appreciation from the people we help — I think they realize that they’re not alone and there are people out there to help them.”

For more information, or to become involved, please contact St. Vincent de Paul Society conference President Matt Callahan at 706-910-6555. You may also donate directly on our website, cathedralctk.org, by clicking the “Donate” link.

PROPERTY COMMITTEE on the second Wednesday of the month. When in-person meetings are established, the group most likely will meet in the conference room at O’Neill Center.

Taking part in the Property Committee is an ideal way to live out stewardship as part of our faith community.

“I think bringing in your skills and participating in the meetings is acting in stewardship,” Joe says.

“Helping with bidding projects, gathering quotes, and adding professional support is working in stewardship so we don’t go off

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track. It’s a giving of your time and talent.”

Some of the proposed projects that are in planning include geothermal documentation; CMG insurance claim for the bell tower; Baptismal renovation; School front entrance, Church lighting system; Church interior columns and ceiling renovation; Hall renovation; Re-pointing, Parapet Capping.

School projects currently in the planning stages include front offices and entrance, office renovations to classrooms, and fire and security system upgrades.

Parishioners interested in joining the Property Committee, or who would like more info on this ministry, may contact Joe Sandfort by email at jsandfort@cdlex.org.

“I think bringing in your skills and participating in the meetings is acting in stewardship.

Helping with bidding projects, gathering quotes and adding professional support is working in stewardship so we don’t go off track.

It’s a giving of your time and talent.”

— JOE SANDFORT, CHRIST THE KING FACILITIES MANAGER 5

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From the Catechism

WHAT IS ALMSGIVING?

“Giving alms to the poor is a witness to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2462).

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uring the seasons of Advent and Lent, it is not uncommon to hear about fasting, prayer and almsgiving. Most of us are familiar with at least two of the three penitential practices — prayer and fasting. We engage in prayer each day, while fasting becomes a regular part of our Lenten routines.

But what is almsgiving?

It is simply giving to those less fortunate than ourselves. This can be through donations of canned goods to the local food pantry, spare change to the Salvation Army during the Christmas season, or even through person-to-person contact with the poor.

This Lent, if your family has not regularly engaged in almsgiving, consider making a change.

Search for opportunities to serve the poor and vulnerable, making their lives easier — even if in a small way.

Things to do with your family: • Place a coffee can in a prominent place in your home, and commit to filling it with loose change throughout the week. Then, donate the money to a local charity.

• The next time you shop for groceries, buy a few extra canned goods and donate them to a food pantry or food bank.

• Research a charity that works with the poor, and make a commitment to regularly give to that organization.

• Resolve to never judge those who are less fortunate, and teach your children the same.

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THE PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL MINISTRY Leaning on the Pillar of Prayer

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ost of us have heard Fr. Peyton’s long-cherished saying, “The family that prays together, stays together.” These wise words can also be applied to parish family life as “The parish family that prays together, stays together.”

Thanks to the Prayers of the Faithful Ministry, our parish family is indeed praying together, and remaining unified in heart and spirit because of it.

“I think it is important that the members of this ministry draft these prayers each week to be read at Mass, as opposed to someone in the parish office just doing so,” says Deacon John Hinkel, who coordinates the ministry. “We are calling upon members of the community to write these prayers for the benefit of everyone. It gives us a broader perspective to look at and pray from.”

This ministry is run by a committee of about eight people who volunteer to write the Prayers of the Faithful. Deacon

Deacon John Hinkel

Hinkel allocates a month or two to each volunteer, including himself, for which they will be responsible to write out the prayers. He then arranges the assignments on a calendar and gives the calendars out to the volunteers.

When writing the prayers, the volunteers integrate the following intentions — for the Church; for those in authority; for our parish community; for civil authorities; and for the deceased, particularly those from our parish who have recently died.

“We also offer prayers for particular needs, such as for a successful end to the pandemic,” Deacon Hinkel says. “In addition, there is a prayer to be offered at every weekend Mass for the specified Mass intentions that have been given to the parish office. There are also resources that they can draw from which highlight a particular theme for that Sunday.”

Having worked with this ministry for a few years, Deacon Hinkel is impressed with the dedication he has seen.

“I was ordained in 2016, and about a year later, the deacon who had been heading it up asked me to take it over,” he says. “The people who write the continued on back cover

“One of the stewardship pillars is prayer, and this ministry helps us live it out. It is a great ministry because you can do it in your own home, whenever you get a chance to. It gives people an opportunity to serve, who may not be able to get out and physically serve somewhere outside of their homes.”

— DEACON JOHN HINKEL 7

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299 Colony Blvd. | Lexington, KY 40502 cathedralctk.org | (859) 268-2861

THE PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL MINISTRY continued from page 7

prayers are very reliable and have been doing it for a long time. This ministry helps them reflect on what sort of needs there are in our parish, community, and world, allowing them to be more sensitive to them, as well.”

Ultimately, the Prayers of the Faithful Ministry helps our parish family embrace the stewardship vision in a meaningful way.

“One of the stewardship pillars is prayer, and this ministry helps us live it out,” Deacon Hinkel says. “It is a great ministry because

you can do it in your own home, whenever you get a chance to. It gives people an opportunity to serve, who may not be able to get out and physically serve somewhere outside of their homes.”

This ministry takes on a new significance during the Lenten season, during which our community is called upon to be deeply dedicated to intercession. Let us pray that Our Lord will guide those who volunteer their time to this ministry.

If you would like more information, please call or text Deacon John Hinkel at 859-806-3672 or email him at jhinkel@cdlex.org.

LITURGY SCHEDULE

Saturday Vigil - 5:00 p.m.|Sunday - 7:30 a.m.; 9:00 a.m.; 11:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Daily (Monday to Saturday) - 8:00 a.m.|(Monday to Friday) - 5:30 p.m.

Reconciliation: Wednesday 4:45 - 5:20 p.m., Saturday 3:45 - 4:45 p.m. | First Sunday of the month 8:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.